The University of South Florida has teamed up with a major cybersecurity partner to offer training and certifications.

USF officials announced Tuesday that as a part of its new cybersecurity initiative, the school will work with Clearwater-based (ISC)2, a non-profit organization that educates and certifies IT professionals, to train students and industry professionals, helping them earn certificates to get jobs in the cybersecurity field. The partnership will allow USF to offer Certified Information Systems Security Professional courses and exams, a process scheduled to start this spring. USF's new master's degree in cybersecurity will begin in fall 2014.

About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.